Yogyakarta, Indonesia - a trip to Borobodur and Prambanan, July 06, 2010
Early morning - left at 5:00 AM for the ruins. Borobudur and Prambanan. Definitely, they are at the top of my ruins list, along with Tikal and Machu Picchu. Not as big,
but the preservation, details - just incredible. It was magical to walk the same alleys, touch the same stones which have been admired by people long gone. Centuries ago...

Both sites are pre-Islamic in Indonesia, which is the biggest Muslim country in the world. Wherever I go, there will be prayers to be heard at certain times.
They start slow, but grow into a wild display of faith which seems to be coming from a dozen different people all at the same time, through megaphones at high volume.
You can't hide from it, but I am slowly getting used to it.

First a few shots from Borobudur, which has it's roots in Buddhism. I must say that these photos hardly represent what you can see there - it's 1000 times this much.
This is a long page, but to show a bit of the site required a bit more than a few photos. And more in part 2 - Prampanan on the next page.

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Borobudur - approaching after 6 AM.

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Borobudur.

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Borobudur.

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Borobudur.

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Borobudur.

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Borobudur.

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Borobudur.

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Borobudur.

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Borobudur.

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Borobudur. I have an old coin from India, with a very similar elephant design on it.

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Borobudur.

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Borobudur.

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Borobudur.

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Borobudur.

Below, a few images of people coming to see the site, and leaving. With their creators long gone, the carved in stone faces remain, immortal.
In Borobudur, you can come up close and touch them, feel their texture. Just made of stone, but they have a soul - and you can feel it.

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Borobudur.

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Borobudur.

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Borobudur.

Next page, Prambanan, equally exciting, continued tomorrow.

My life has always been about freedom and I shall continue to walk this path.Safe travels ! ........... Stan